South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in average age, work life and housing tenure.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Oxfordshire increased by 4.7%, from just over 128,000 to 134,000.

The addition of almost 6,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Oxfordshire was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Oxfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Oxfordshire increased by four years, from 38 to 42 years.

This affluent rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 12% of people in South Oxfordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and South Oxfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Oxfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Oxfordshire decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than in nearby Oxford.

In South Oxfordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.9% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Oxford increased from 21% to 28%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in South Oxfordshire remained close to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 73%.

Private renting in South Oxfordshire increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of South Oxfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Oxfordshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Oxfordshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in South Oxfordshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than across England.

In South Oxfordshire, the proportion of single people increased from 26% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in South Oxfordshire fell from 58% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 10%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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